Website Hosting Upgrade Checklist (Free Download)

1) Performance targets

• Target a meaningful reduction in TTFB, Largest Contentful Paint, and overall load time (especially on mobile).
• Confirm the host supports modern caching layers (page cache + object cache) and has a CDN strategy.
• Ensure you can upgrade PHP versions and scale resources without a full re-platform.

2) Reliability targets

• Uptime monitoring and clear incident visibility (you should know when things break).
• Ability to handle traffic spikes without emergency firefighting.

3) Security + recovery targets

• Automatic backups you can restore quickly.
• WAF / DDoS protection, SSL, and secure access (SFTP/SSH, 2FA).
• Clear process for malware response and post-incident cleanup.

4) Workflow targets (teams & developers)

• Staging environments, push/pull workflows, and safe deployments.
• Logs/APM tooling to diagnose performance issues, not guess.

A. Baseline your current site (so you can prove improvement)

• Record current performance using PageSpeed Insights (home page + 2–3 key templates).
• Note current hosting plan limits (CPU, RAM, visits, bandwidth) and your peak traffic patterns.
• List your critical “money pages” (checkout, lead forms, booking pages, account pages).

B. Create a migration inventory

• Export a plugin list and remove anything unused or redundant.
• Document DNS records: A/AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT (SPF/DKIM/DMARC), and subdomains.
• Confirm where email is hosted (do not accidentally break email when you change DNS).
• Note integrations: payment gateways, SMTP provider, CDN, security plugin, analytics, tag manager.

C. Backups and rollback plan

• Create a fresh full backup (files + database) and verify it can be restored.
• Set a “rollback window” and decide who will make the go/no-go decision.
• Lower DNS TTL 24 hours before the move (so changes propagate faster).

1) Caching layers (the “big lever”)

• Page caching: confirm full-page cache exists at the server/edge level, not just via a plugin.
• Object caching: for dynamic sites (WooCommerce, LMS, membership), ensure object caching is available and correctly configured.
• Cache rules: ensure logged-in pages, cart/checkout, and personalized content are excluded appropriately.

2) CDN strategy (international and mobile traffic)

• Use a CDN for static assets (images, CSS, JS) and consider edge caching for full pages where appropriate.
• Choose a data center close to your primary audience, then rely on CDN/edge for global reach.

3) Runtime and database health

• Run the latest stable PHP version supported by your theme/plugins.
• Clean autoloaded options, reduce cron bloat, and optimize slow queries (especially on large content sites).
• Limit heavy “all-in-one” plugins that duplicate functionality (security + cache + optimizer collisions are common).

4) Media and front-end payload

• Serve images in modern formats where possible and lazy-load below the fold.
• Minimize render-blocking resources and reduce unused CSS/JS.
• Use a lightweight theme and avoid page builders that generate excessive DOM/CSS if speed is a priority.

Baseline hardening

• Enable SSL (HTTPS) everywhere and enforce it.
• Use strong admin passwords, limit admin accounts, and enable 2FA.
• Block XML-RPC if not needed, and restrict wp-admin access where appropriate.
• Use secure file access (SFTP/SSH) and avoid shared credentials.

Operational safety

• Automatic backups + on-demand backups before major changes.
• WAF + DDoS mitigation (so attacks do not even reach WordPress).
• Uptime monitoring and alerting so incidents are detected early.
• Staging environment for updates (test before production).

1. Create/confirm staging: build a staging copy on the new host and validate the site loads.
2. Freeze changes (briefly): avoid publishing big changes during the migration window.
3. Migrate content + database: move the site via your preferred method (host migration, plugin, or manual). Verify URL structure and permalinks.
4. Validate critical flows: login, checkout, forms, search, comment submission, membership/LMS flows.
5. Prepare DNS switch: ensure TTL was lowered; verify DNS records are ready (including subdomains).
6. Switch DNS: update A/AAAA and relevant records; keep old hosting active during propagation.
7. Verify HTTPS + redirects: force HTTPS, check www/non-www consistency, confirm no redirect loops.
8. Enable caching/CDN: turn on caching layers and confirm exclusions (cart/checkout, logged-in pages).
9. Monitor logs + uptime: watch for 404 spikes, 5xx errors, and plugin conflicts.

Functional tests (do these first)

• Forms (contact, lead magnets), email notifications, SMTP deliverability
• Payments (test transaction), order emails, webhooks, cart/checkout stability
• Search, category archives, important landing pages
• Logins, password reset, account pages

Tracking and SEO checks

• Google Analytics / Tag Manager firing correctly
• Search Console verification, sitemap accessible, robots.txt unchanged
• Canonical tags correct, no accidental noindex on production
• 404 monitoring (broken assets often appear after a migration)

Performance re-test

• Re-run PageSpeed on the same templates you used for baseline
• Check caching headers and confirm CDN is serving static assets
• Validate CWV improvements across mobile and desktop templates

Why Kinsta aligns with this upgrade checklist

• Edge caching via Cloudflare integration: full-page cache can be served from a global network, reducing latency for visitors far from your origin data center.
• Security posture: firewall + DDoS protections (and operational security features such as SSL and secure access workflows).
• Staging environments: test updates safely before pushing to production.
• Monitoring/diagnostics: performance tooling and visibility so you can find bottlenecks faster.
• Migration support: ideal if you want to reduce manual steps and migration risk.

Note: Always match hosting to your site type. For example, WooCommerce/LMS/membership sites benefit from strong caching rules, reliable object caching, and stable PHP/DB performance.

Copy/Paste Checklist (Website Hosting Upgrade)

1) Baseline (Before)

• Run PageSpeed Insights on key templates (home + top landing pages + checkout/lead page)
• Record traffic patterns (peak hour/day), top countries, and device split
• List critical revenue flows (forms, payments, bookings, logins)

2) Inventory

• Export plugin list and remove unused plugins
• Document DNS records (A/AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT for SPF/DKIM/DMARC)
• Confirm email hosting provider and SMTP configuration
• List third-party integrations (payments, CRM, ads, analytics, CDN)

3) Backup + Rollback

• Create full backup (files + database) and verify restore procedure
• Lower DNS TTL 24 hours before migration
• Define rollback window and decision owner

4) Performance Setup

• Enable page caching (server/edge where appropriate)
• Enable object caching for dynamic sites (WooCommerce/LMS/membership)
• Enable CDN for static assets
• Update PHP version (compatible stable) and verify theme/plugin compatibility
• Optimize database (slow queries, autoload bloat, cron hygiene)
• Optimize media (lazy-load, correct dimensions, modern formats where possible)

5) Security Setup

• SSL enabled + HTTPS enforced
• 2FA enabled for admins; remove unused admin accounts
• WAF/DDoS protection active; block abuse patterns
• Secure access only (SFTP/SSH); rotate passwords/keys post-migration
• Backups scheduled + on-demand backups enabled

6) Migration Execution

• Create staging copy on new host and validate site loads
• Freeze major site changes during migration window
• Migrate site, then validate: login, checkout, forms, search, key pages
• Switch DNS; keep old host active during propagation
• Enable caching/CDN and confirm exclusions (cart/checkout, logged-in pages)

7) Post-Migration QA

• Test forms + email deliverability (SMTP)
• Test payment flow with a real (or sandbox) transaction
• Confirm analytics/tracking firing correctly
• Check Search Console, sitemap, robots.txt, canonicals
• Re-run PageSpeed and compare to baseline
• Monitor uptime, error logs, and 404s for 72 hours

Will upgrading hosting automatically fix a slow WordPress site?

It can, but only if the hosting change removes the bottlenecks (TTFB, caching, CPU limits, DB performance).
If the site is weighed down by heavy plugins, bloated themes, or unoptimized media, you will still need the performance checklist steps.

What is the safest way to upgrade hosting with minimal downtime?

Use a staging environment on the new host, validate everything first, lower DNS TTL in advance, then switch DNS during a low-traffic window.
Keep the old host active while DNS propagates and run post-migration QA immediately.

Do I need a CDN if I choose a good host?

Often yes—especially if you have international traffic or media-heavy pages. A CDN reduces latency and improves repeat performance by serving assets closer to the visitor.

Is managed WordPress hosting worth it?

It is typically worth it when your time is valuable, uptime matters, and you want integrated performance and security features without stitching together many tools.
If you prefer full control and have strong sysadmin resources, a VPS/cloud server can also work.

What’s a simple “best next step” if I want fewer hosting headaches?

Choose a managed WordPress provider with strong caching + security + staging workflows.
If you’re evaluating Kinsta specifically, you can start here:
Try Kinsta.